(The witness was duly sworn by Senator Smith.)
Senator SMITH.
Give your full name.
Mr. ETCHES.
Henry Samuel Etches.
Senator SMITH.
Where do you reside?
Mr. ETCHES.
No. 23 - A, Gordon Avenue, Southampton.
Senator SMITH.
Are you a married or single man?
Mr. ETCHES.
Married.
Senator SMITH.
How old are you?
Mr. ETCHES.
Forty, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What is your business?
Mr. ETCHES.
Bedroom steward, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Were you bedroom steward on the Titanic on the voyage from Southampton up to the time of the accident?
Mr. ETCHES.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What deck were you on?
Mr. ETCHES.
B deck, after-end, port side.
Senator SMITH.
How many rooms did you have charge of?
Mr. ETCHES.
Eight on B deck and one on A deck.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know who the passengers were on A deck?
Mr. ETCHES.
Mr. Andrews, sir
Senator SMITH.
The builder of this ship?
Mr. ETCHES.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What apartment did he have?
Mr. ETCHES.
He had a separate cabin, with bathroom attached - the only cabin. There was only one on each part of the after-end of A deck.
Senator SMITH.
What was the number?
Mr. ETCHES.
Thirty-six, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see Mr. Andrews frequently during the voyage?
Mr. ETCHES.
Every morning at 7 o'clock I went to his cabin, sir.
Senator SMITH.
For what purpose?
Mr. ETCHES.
I used to take him some fruit and tea.
Senator SMITH.
When would you next see him?
Mr. ETCHES.
I used to see him again when he dressed at night. That would be about a quarter or 20 minutes to 7, as a rule. He was rather late in dressing.
Senator SMITH.
Had you ever known him before this voyage?
Mr. ETCHES.
I had met him several times at Belfast, because I had been on the Olympic.
Senator SMITH.
Did he build the Olympic?
Mr. ETCHES.
Oh, yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How old a man was Mr. Andrews?
Mr. ETCHES.
He signed himself as 38 on a paper that I gave him.
Senator SMITH.
Did he seem to be in good health on the voyage?
Mr. ETCHES.
In perfect health.
Senator SMITH.
Did he seem to be busy?
Mr. ETCHES.
He was busy the whole time.
Senator SMITH.
Did he have maps and drawings in his apartment?
Mr. ETCHES.
He had charts rolled up by the side of his bed, and he had papers of all descriptions on his table during the day.
Senator SMITH.
He was apparently working?
Mr. ETCHES.
He was working all the time, sir. He was making notes of improvements; any improvements that could be made.
Senator SMITH.
On the ship?
Mr. ETCHES.
In any of the cabins. Anything that was pointed out to him, he was making notes of it.
Senator SMITH.
From what you saw of him, you gathered that he was giving his undivided attention to this ship on its trial trip?
Mr. ETCHES.
I never saw him anywhere else, but during the day I met him in all parts, with workmen, going about. I mentioned several things to him, and he was with workmen having them attended to. The whole of the day he was working from one part of the ship to the other.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see him working nights?
Mr. ETCHES.
He was very late in going to bed, sir. I never saw him in the smoke room or in any other of these rooms. I happened to meet him at different parts of deck E more often than anywhere else.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see him in the boiler room?
Mr. ETCHES.
He had a suit, and I have seen that suit thrown on the bed when he had taken it off. I have seen him in the chief engineer's room.
Senator SMITH.
You mean by that that he had a special suit which he wore when he went into the boiler room?
Mr. ETCHES.
It was there for the purpose. I knew exactly what it was. It was a suit the surveyors put on.
Senator SMITH.
What did you say about a suit that he wore when he went into the engineering department?
Mr. ETCHES.
He had an engineering suit on then - an ordinary blue suit, sir.
Senator SMITH.
When did you last see Mr. Andrews?
Mr. ETCHES.
It would be about 20 minutes past 12. He stopped me. I was going along B deck, and he asked had I waked all my passengers. Mr. Harrison came up then, and I said: "No; I am going to see if the Carter family are up." I went to open the door. Mr. Harrison said: "I can tell you they are up. I have just come out of my cabin." His cabin adjoined. Mr. Andrews then told me to come down on C deck with him, and we went down the pantry staircase together. Going down he told me to be sure and make the passengers open their doors, and to tell them the lifebelts were on top of the wardrobes and on top of the racks, and to assist them in every way I could to get them on, which I endeavored to do.
Senator SMITH.
Is that the last time you ever saw him?
Mr. ETCHES.
No, sir. We walked along C deck together. The purser was standing outside of his office, in a large group of ladies. The purser was asking them to do as he asked them, and to go back in their rooms and not to frighten themselves, but, as a preliminary caution, to put the lifebelts on, and the stewards would give them every attention. Mr. Andrews said: "That is exactly what I have been trying to get them to do," and, with that, he walked down the staircase to go on lower D deck. That is the last I saw of Mr. Andrews.
Senator SMITH.
He never asked you to put a lifebelt on him, did he?
Mr. ETCHES.
No, sir; and I never saw him with one in his own hand.
Senator SMITH.
Was he the only passenger or the only cabin passenger in an apartment on A deck?
Mr. ETCHES.
No, sir; Mr. and Mrs. Carter and the two children were occupying 98 and 96. Mr. Harrison was next door, occupying 94. Mr. Guggenheim was occupying 84, with his secretary [Victor Giglio].
Senator SMITH.
All on A deck?
Mr. ETCHES.
Not on A deck. There were only two cabins on the after-end of A deck. One was vacant and the other was occupied.
Senator SMITH.
On the deck below, under your charge, what rooms did you have?
Mr. ETCHES.
98, 96, 94; and then came the door. The other rooms were empty until I came to 84, occupied by Mr. Guggenheim and his secretary. Mr. Carter's valet [Alexander Cairns] was in 96, the inside cabin.
Senator SMITH.
Where were you when the collision came?
Mr. ETCHES.
Asleep, sir.
Senator SMITH.
In what part of the ship?
Mr. ETCHES.
In our apartments, which were about the middle of the E Deck, in what we call the working alleyway.
Senator SMITH.
How many people slept in the same room with you?
Mr. ETCHES.
Nineteen of us, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What time did you retire that night?
Mr. ETCHES.
At half-past 9, sir. I was due again at 12 o'clock.
Senator SMITH.
Due on watch or on duty at 12 o'clock midnight?
Mr. ETCHES.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How were you awakened?
Mr. ETCHES.
I was awakened by something, but I did not know what it was, and I called to my mate and I said "What time is it that they are going to call us next?" It was then between 25 minutes and 20 minutes to 12. He said, "I don't know." I turned over to go to sleep again. At that minute I heard a loud shout, "Close watertight bulkheads." I recognized it as our boatswain's voice; it was extra loud. I looked out and he was running from fore to aft.
Senator SMITH.
What was he saying?
Mr. ETCHES.
The one shout, "Close watertight bulkhead doors."
Senator SMITH.
How long was that after the impact?
Mr. ETCHES.
That would be under 10 minutes, sir. Seven minutes, I would say, as near as possible.
Senator SMITH.
Was there any other signal that you know for that action except the word of mouth?
Mr. ETCHES.
That is the only word, sir. My bed was next to the door.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know whether that was done or not?
Mr. ETCHES.
Well, a seaman was running with him from forward to aft, and so I took it they were going along to close those doors; but my business did not take me so far as that door.
Senator SMITH.
What did you do then?
Mr. ETCHES.
I partly dressed and looked out of the door, and I saw the third class passengers coming along from forward with their portmanteaus. I had gotten about 30 yards, probably, when I met a passenger with a piece of ice, that size (indicating), and he said, "Will you believe it now"? And threw it down on the deck. With that I went back and finished dressing, and then went up on deck.
Senator SMITH.
What did you do then?
Mr. ETCHES.
As I was going through the door I met a bedroom steward named Stone. He was the man my mate was supposed to relieve. He was bedroom steward on E deck. I said; "What is the time"? He said, "Never mind about that; there is something else for you to do. I saw them pull up bags of mail, and the water running out of the bottom of them." My mate called down to E deck and I went to the other ladder to A deck, where I was to relieve the man. When I got on A deck the bedroom steward was assisting passengers then, and most of the doors were open. That was the forward end of A deck. I said, "Have you called all of your people"? He said, "Yes, but I can't get them to dress." They were standing in the corridors partly dressed. I said. "I will go down on my deck"; and with that I went down to B deck, arousing my passengers. That is when I met Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Andrews the builder.
Senator SMITH.
Did you arouse your passengers in their staterooms?
Mr. ETCHES.
I aroused the passengers in my stateroom; yes. I saw them all out, except Mr. Carter's family, and Mr. Harrison told me they were already up.
Senator SMITH.
Did you assist in putting life belts on them?
Mr. ETCHES.
Yes, Sir; but more on C deck. I threw the lifebelts down, and then threw some of them into the corridor. Mr. Andrews said to be sure there were no lifebelts left. The first cabin I went to was at the foot of the pantry stairs. I pulled the bottom drawer out there and stood on it, and got out lifebelts, and as a gentleman was passing there, I gave him one of those.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know who he was?
Mr. ETCHES.
No; I gave him one. He was a stout gentleman; appeared to be an Englishman. He said, "Show me how to put this on," and I showed him how; and then he said, "Tie it for me." I said, "Pull the strings around to the front and tie it," and as he was doing it I ran outside and opened other doors, and then most of the doors were opened along C deck.
Senator SMITH.
What about Mr. Guggenheim and his secretary, and others?
Mr. ETCHES.
They were in their room. I took the lifebelts out. The lifebelts in this cabin were in the wardrobe, in a small rack, and the cabin was only occupied by two. There were three lifebelts there, and I took the three out and put one on Mr. Guggenheim. He apparently had only gone to his room, for he answered the first knock. He said: "This will hurt." I said, "You have plenty of time, put on some clothes and I will be back in a few minutes."
Senator SMITH.
Did you get back there?
Mr. ETCHES.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Was he there?
Mr. ETCHES.
Yes; he followed me along. I then found No. 78 cabin door shut, and I banged with both hands on the door loudly, and a voice answered, "What is it"? Then a lady's voice said, "Tell me what the trouble is." I said, "It is necessary that you should open the door, and I will explain everything, but please put the lifebelts on or bring them in the corridor." They said, "I want to know what is the matter." I said, "Kindly open the door," and I still kept banging. I passed along, and I found one cabin was empty, and then I came to another cabin and a lady and a gentleman stood at the door. They were swinging a lifebelt in their hands.
Senator SMITH.
When you know who they were please name them.
Mr. ETCHES.
I do not know anyone outside of the people in my section.
Senator SMITH.
Did this woman open the door when you pounded so hard?
Mr. ETCHES.
I did not see the door opened.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know who was in that room?
Mr. ETCHES.
Well, I don't know the name. It was a shortish name, and I fancy it began with S. They were a stiff-built gentleman and a rather short, thin lady. They were undoubtedly Americans.
Senator SMITH.
Have you learned who they were?
Mr. ETCHES.
I have made no inquiry since then.
Senator SMITH.
Have you ever seen them since?
Mr. ETCHES.
No, sir; but I think I should recognize them if I saw them.
Senator SMITH.
You did not see them aboard the Carpathia?
Mr. ETCHES.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What did you do after that?
Mr. ETCHES.
I went along to the purser's place. He said, "It is necessary to go up on the boat deck," and he said, "Tell all the other bedroom stewards to assemble their passengers on the boat deck and stand by." I went on the boat deck, and they were just loading boat No. 7. I said to the quartermaster, "Is this boat No. 5 "? He said, "No; it is the next boat."
Senator SMITH.
You were on the starboard side?
Mr. ETCHES.
On the starboard side; yes.
Senator SMITH.
You went then to No. 9 lifeboat?
Mr. ETCHES.
No. 7, I went to, and asked him, "Is this No. 5"? He said, "No; it is the next boat." I looked at No. 5, and they were taking the covers off and preparing her, and I assisted to launch No. 7 boat. There was Mr. Murdoch, Mr. Ismay, Mr. Pitman, and a quartermaster [Oliver], two stewards, and myself there.
Senator SMITH.
Were you all working?
Mr. ETCHES.
My part was that I was clearing the falls. They were catching in the falls, or at least the falls were catching people's feet, as they were jumping around, and I cleared the falls as they were lowering them away. I went down to do it.
Senator SMITH.
Did Mr. Murdoch assist in loading the boat or lowering it?
Mr. ETCHES.
Mr. Murdoch stood there the whole time, giving orders.
Senator SMITH.
Did Mr. Pitman assist?
Mr. ETCHES.
Mr. Pitman assisted, yes; and Mr. Ismay was assisting with the falls.
Senator SMITH.
What did Mr. Ismay do?
Mr. ETCHES.
Mr. Ismay, in the first place, was asking the gentlemen to kindly keep back, as it was ladies first in this boat; and they wanted to get the boat clear first.
Senator SMITH.
Go ahead.
Mr. ETCHES.
After we lowered the boat -
Senator SMITH.
Just a moment. That boat was filled from the boat deck?
Mr. ETCHES.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Was it difficult to get into it from the deck?
Mr. ETCHES.
There was not the slightest difficulty, sir. A child could have stepped over.
Senator SMITH.
Was it a full-sized lifeboat?
Mr. ETCHES.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And were the women put into it first?
Mr. ETCHES.
Yes, sir. The gentlemen were lined up, those that were trying to assist, and Mr. Ismay said, "Kindly make a line here and allow the ladies to pass through"; and I think it was Mr. Murdoch's voice that was calling out, "Ladies, this way; is there any more ladies before this boat goes?" The boat was three parts full of ladies, to my knowledge.
Senator SMITH.
Were there any more to get in? Did any more get in?
Mr. ETCHES.
There were, because No. 5 boat, which I went to next, took over 36 ladies.
Senator SMITH.
That was the next boat?
Mr. ETCHES.
That was the next boat, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And you went to No. 5 boat, then, from No. 7?
Mr. ETCHES.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You did not get into No. 7?
Mr. ETCHES.
No; I did not attempt to get into No. 7. My boat was No. 5, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Your boat was No. 5; that was your station?
Mr. ETCHES.
That was my station, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What men got into No. 7, if you know?
Mr. ETCHES.
I did not see the men that got in there, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did Mr. Pitman get in there?
Mr. ETCHES.
No, sir.
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